MALAY SUPERSTITIONS
to be the abiding-place of a familiar spirit until lured therefrom by the solicitations of someone who, at dead of night, stands over the grave and by potent incantations persuades the bâjang to come forth.
Pólong and Pélsit are but other names for Bâjang, the latter is chiefly used in the State of Kĕdah where it is considered rather chic to have a pélsit. A Kĕdah lady the other day, eulogising the advantages of possessing a familiar spirit (she said that amongst other things it gave her absolute control over her husband and the power of annoying people who offended her), thus described the method of securing this useful ally:
“You go out,” she said, “on the night before the full moon and stand with your back to the moon and your face to an ant-hill so that your shadow falls on the ant-hill, Then you recite certain jampi (incantations), and bending forward try to embrace your shadow. If you fail try again several times, repeating more incantations, If not successful go the next night and make a further effort, and the night after if necessary—three nights in all. If you cannot then catch your shadow, wait till the same day on the following month and renew the attempt. Sooner or later you will succeed, and,
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